Global Beverage plans expansion
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
FE Report
Soft-drinks group Global Beverage is planning to ramp up its output by adding production lines to produce 18,000 bottles per hour as demand grows.
Owned by Alliance Holdings Ltd, the group, which bottles and markets Virgin Drinks, Shark and ZamZam Cola, said it expects to secure a sizable market share, even though competition heats up in the local beverage market.
"We see good growth prospects for the industry," Yasser Rizvi, deputy managing director of Global Beverage, said.
He said the demand continues to be robust as soft-drinks have become regular consumption habit of Bangladesh's middle-class life and also the rise in people's purchasing power.
Market insiders say, over the last few years, several companies entered the beverage business, which has been growing by 15 per cent a year.
Mr. Rizvi said he is optimistic about the expansion plan, saying the country's Tk. 8.0 billion soft-drinks market will grow further and will help reduce the supply gap.
Global Beverage hit the market in 1999 with Virgin Soft Drinks to become Bangladesh's the first beverage company to introduce 250 ml slim can. In 2005, Alliance Holdings took it over from Youth Group.
"Over the years, the company has become profitable through changes in management, product innovation and emphasis on a better distribution network," he said.
Soft-drinks group Global Beverage is planning to ramp up its output by adding production lines to produce 18,000 bottles per hour as demand grows.
Owned by Alliance Holdings Ltd, the group, which bottles and markets Virgin Drinks, Shark and ZamZam Cola, said it expects to secure a sizable market share, even though competition heats up in the local beverage market.
"We see good growth prospects for the industry," Yasser Rizvi, deputy managing director of Global Beverage, said.
He said the demand continues to be robust as soft-drinks have become regular consumption habit of Bangladesh's middle-class life and also the rise in people's purchasing power.
Market insiders say, over the last few years, several companies entered the beverage business, which has been growing by 15 per cent a year.
Mr. Rizvi said he is optimistic about the expansion plan, saying the country's Tk. 8.0 billion soft-drinks market will grow further and will help reduce the supply gap.
Global Beverage hit the market in 1999 with Virgin Soft Drinks to become Bangladesh's the first beverage company to introduce 250 ml slim can. In 2005, Alliance Holdings took it over from Youth Group.
"Over the years, the company has become profitable through changes in management, product innovation and emphasis on a better distribution network," he said.